Ink marker



Dec. l0, 1963 A A. LANGNICKEL.

INK MARKER Filed Jan. 3, 1962 United States Patent() 3,113,336 INK MARKER Arvid Langniclrel, 928 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ. Filed lan. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 164,026 9 Claims. (Cl. 15-563) The present invention is concerned with an ink marker or pen of the character havingl a nib adapted 'to contact the surface to be marked, the nib being intended to be kept moist with ink from an internal supply.

Devices of that kind are subject yto certain defects such as tendencies of the nib to become dry either in steady use or after standing Ia period of time. Eiforts to maintain automatically an appropriate supply of ink to the nib have encountered diliiculties. Under some circumstances the supply may be inadequate and in others too great. Various other problems arise such as ink leakage or inadequate venting.

The present invention comprises a novel arrangement and relation of elements which meet fthe diliiculties in a very effective manner. lt includes a charging chamber of predetermined capacity between the ink reservoir and the nib and associated valve means, ink absorbent elements, and passages for ink feed and air venting which cooperate in a Very effective manner to maintain 'the nib appropriately saturated with ink without leakage. The whole is under the automatic control of the user whereby through natural exertion of pressure on the nib a replenishment of the ink supply is eiected when needed.

The invention accordingly comprises an ink marker embodying the elements and the relation thereof exemplilied in the article hereinafter described and depicted in the drawings. -In connection with the description reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l lis a view in elevation of the complete assembled ink marker;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section thereof;

FIG. 3 is an exploded partially diagrammatic view showing the major elements of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the valve and ink charging chamber;

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c show different forms of a packing ring which may be employed through which the nib is slidable;

FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c show different `forms of ink absorbent material which may be employed in the chamber adjacent `to the ink charging chamber; 'and t FIG. 7 shows a further form of ink absorbent material which may be employed.

FIGS. l and 2 show the general assembly and arrangement. The proportions may vary considerably, the marker illustrated being representative and including a relatively large ink reservoir. In a normal embodiment the marker has a length in the range of 4to 6 inches. The main barrel includes a bottom cylindrical member 1l) providing a relatively large ink reservoir 11. Above that is ya cylindrical section 12 having a reduced diameter lower threaded end portion 13 adapted to be Screwed into internal threads in the upper end ofthe section 10. Preferably the cylindrical section 12 has a shoulder 14 and a gasket such as indicated at 15 may be inserted between the shoulder 14 and the upper end of the barrel section 10. An upper nib holder 19 is suitably connected to the cylindrical section 12 las by means of a lower threaded extension 2l) adapted to ybe received in threads in the upper end of cylindrical section 1'2. A nib 21 is slidably mounted in the holder 19 as will be described more fully hereinafter. A removable cap 22 is adapted to be engaged over the nib holder 19 and has a lower annular surface Z3 adapted -to be pressed down against the upper end 24 of section 12 which is slightly larger in diameter than the threaded end 20 of the nib holder 19 to provide a shoulder against which the cap 22 may seat. The interior of cap 22 is of a diameter and shape closely to engage the nib holder 19 at the area 22a thereby to provide a seal at that area near the upper end of `the nib holder and also provide frictional engagement to hold the cap in place.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4 an ink charging chamber Z9 is provided as defined by a cup shaped member 30 fitted within the upper end of the barrel section 10, the member 3l) having a top flange portion 31 resting on a shoulder 32 within the upper end of the bore of the member 10. Resting on top of the ilange 31 is a valve guide plate 33 having a central opening to receive a valve stem 34 and relatively large radial openings 35 for the llow of ink therethrough when the valve is open. The valve may be varied considerably in character but in the present embodiment it comprises a llat disc 36 mounted on the stem 34 and adapted to seat upwardly against the plate 33. The valve is normally urged into such closed position by a coil spring 37 engaged between the plate 33 and a small disc 3S secured to `the upper end of the valve stem. The valve includes a lower extension 4t) adapted when the valve is moved downwardly to extend through an opening 41 in the bottom plate section 42 of the cup member 30. The relative diameters of the extension 4l) and the hole 41 are such Ithat the part 40 is freely slidable in the hole but substantially closes the hole when moved thereinto. Also the length of the part 4@ is such that any substantial inward movement of the nib and thereby of' the part 4t) causes :the latter to engage inthe hole and cut off practically all liquid communication between the chambers 11 and 29. When suiicient above normal pressure is exerted against the outer end of nib 21 the valve disc 36 will be seated against the bottom plate 42 completely closing communication between the reservoir 11 and the charging chamber 29. It will be understood that in normal actual use the position of the ink marker will be reversed from that shown with the reservoir 11 elevated at least above the charging chamber.

Mounted within the upper portion of the barrel is an arrangement of ink absorbent material adapted to receive ink from the charging chamber 29 and transfer it to the nib 21. The particular arrangement may vary considerably, the disclosed construction being intended as representative. ln the specific embodiment shown the chamber 12 has therein a series of annular rings 50, 51 and 52 of absorbent material. Each of the rings has a central opening in which is located the valve stem 34 and the spring 37. The openings, however, preferably vary in the successive rings in order `to retard at least any free uninterrupted flow from the charging charnber 29 to the nib 21. The rings 5t? and 52 may have for example an opening as shown in FIG. 6b and the intermediate ring 51 an opening as shown in the FIG. 6a. As a modification either one or both of the rings Sil and 52 may have a central opening like that shown in FIG. 6c. The variation in shape of the openings will be discussed more fully below. Within the upper end of the barrel, which means for the most part Within the hollow lower end of the nib holder 19, there is also located 4a series of annular members comprising what may be termed packing rings 53. Each of these rings has a central opening 54 adapted to receive therein the nib 21 and to engage resiliently the sides of the nib with a light pressure whereby the nib is in contact with the absorbent material of the rings 53 but the nib is slidable therein when subjected to a firm pressure exerted against the outer end of the nib or in the reverse Irestoring direction by the spring 37. The nib preferably is rectangular in cross section corresponding to the shape normally employed having a thickness corresponding to the narrower dimension on the diameter 55 in FIG. 5a.

The opening 54 may be varied as to shape but in general it should be different from the cross section of the nib 2x1 whereby air passages for venting the interior of the ink marker are provided. In the case of the ring 53 this comprises small triangular openings 54a at each edge of the nib. lIllustrative variations in the shape of the openings 54 are shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c, the rings there being indicated as 53' and 53 respectively. In the case of ring 53 the -vent opening comprises a single triangular channel at one yedge of the nib and in the case of the ring 53" the main opening is generally circular but has a small triangular portion 56. Also since the opening is generally round small passages may remain at each of the other three sides of the nib, assuming that the nib is rectangular in cross section. However, the ring 53" is adapted to receive a nib which is circular in `cross section and still provide a vent passage in the channel 56.

The material of which the rings Si), 5l, 52 and 53 are made may vary but in general comprises an absorbent material such as wool or other fibrous material or it may be of a synthetic plastic sponge material of the type having communicating pores. Preferably the rings 53 are somewhat softer in character than the lower rings 50, 51 and 52. The nib 2l may be rnade of the normal material such as wool felt and is relatively 'firm and stiff. The rings S3 are preferably made out-of-round with respect to the interior of the barrel. Referring for example to FIG. 5a the diameter on the section 55 indicated is slightly greater than the diameter at right an- :gles thereto, Iand slightly greater than the inner diameter of the barrel section 19 whereby lin the assembly the flat sides of the opening 54 will engage the sides of the nib with a light but definite pressure leaving the triangular portions at the edges of the nib open for the air venting f the interior of the ink marker.

In normal use the ink marker will commonly be reversed from the position shown with the nib pointing downwardly but usually with the barrel inclined to the vertical. When in operation the marker shows signs of running dry at the nib increased pressure thereon will slide the nib inwardly and open the valve 36 so that a charge of ink is admitted from the charging chamber 29 into contact with the absorbent rings 50, 51 and 52. The amount admitted, however, will be limited to that contained in the chamber 29 and the moment the abnormal pressure at the end of the nib is released the valve 36 will be restored to its seat against the disc 31, and a new charge will enter the chamber 29 through opening 41. Similarly to the above, if the nib appears somewhat dry upon an initial use, the operator will automatically exert more pressure which immediately admits a full charge from chamber 29 to the absorbent material. Of particular importan-ce is the fact that during non-use the communication between the charging chamber and the absorbent material is fully cut off.

It will be noted that the rings t) and 52 as shown in FIG. 6b each has a star shaped opening 60 and assuming the ink marker is inverted from the position shown in FIG. 2 but at a normal inclined position such that the end of the nib is parallel to the surface to be marked, the ink will initially flow into the radial fingers of the star `60 which are lowermost and of course any excess will continue on through the opening 6i in the ring 51 and any excess that passes 4freely through the opening 61 will be initially caught in the radial fingers of the star shaped opening in the ring 52. In general, therefore, when the charging chamber is opened there will not be a surge of ink to the rings 53 around the nib but the transfer will be more slowly and in general largely by absorption from one ring to the next. Also there will be a free vent- -ing of air into the interior of the barrel preventing the building up of a vacuum in the charging chamber 29 or ink chamber 11. The size of the charging chamber is limited such that the ink will be absorbed or collected l in pockets before there can be any lfree discharge ,at the outer end of the nib and the nib is supplied with ink by absorption -from the packing rings 53.

As heretofore mentioned the various rings of absorbent material may vary in character and particularly as to the shape of the central opening. FIG. 7 shows another possible arrangement of rings which may be substituted for the rings 50, 51 and 52 comprising in FIG. 7 a stack of rings 70, 7i and '72, the rings 7@ and 71 there being shown as having a transverse hollowed out channel 73 within which ink may temporarily collect. As an alternative arrangement the ring 71 could be turned 90 from the ring 7tl.

`As a refinement the opening 41 may initially be covered with a small diaphragm 75 of suitable material secured to the under face of the bottom plate 42 whereby the ink reservoir 11 is completely closed off from the charging chamber `and upon first use pressure may be exerted against the nib 21 causing the end of the valve projection to rupture or disengage the diaphragm leavinU the full opening 41 and a charge of ink to flow into chamber 29 when pressure on the nib is released,

Various other changes may be made in the ink marker and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the claims, and it is intended that all matter contained in the description and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative -and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In an ink marker, a barrel, `a nib holder attached thereto at one end, an ink absorbent nib slidable therein and extending outwardly therefrom, an ink reservoir in said bar-rel at the end opposite' said nib, a chamber adjacent said reservoir and ink absorbent material therein, a valve between said chamber and said reservoir, spring means for normally maintaining the valve closed, ink absorbent resilient packing between said absorbent material and said nib holder said nib being slidable in an opening in said packing and being resiliently engaged thereby, said nib having its inner end engaged against said valve and adapted to open the valve upon inward movement of the nib when pressure is applied to its outer end.

2. In an ink marker, a barrel, a nib holder attached thereto at one end, an ink absorbent nib slidable therein and extending outwardly therefrom, an ink reservoir in said barrel at the end opposite said nib, a chamber adjacent said reservoir and ink absorbent material therein, a valve between said chamber and said reservoir, said valve having an axial stem extending outwardly toward said nib through a central opening in said material with space around the stem for flow of ink around the stern toward said nib, spring means `for normally maintaining the valve closed, ink absorbent resilient packing between said absorbent material and said nib holder said nib being slidable in an opening in said packing and being re siliently engaged thereby, said nib having its inner end engaged against said valve stern and adapted to open the valve upon inward movement of the nib when pressure is applied to its outer end.

3. In an ink marker, a main barrel, resilient ink absorbent -material in one end thereof, an ink absorbent nib axially slidable through an opening in said material and resiliently engaged thereby and extending outwardly from the barrel, an ink reservoir at the opposite end of said barrel, an auxiliary ink charging chamber between said reservoir and resilient material, a valve between said chamber `and resilient material and spring means normally urging it to closed position, the inner end of said nib being engaged against said valve and adapted to move it to open position upon pressure being applied to the outer end of said nib to slide it inwardly.

4. In an ink marker, a main barrel, a first chamber at one end thereof and resilient ink absorbent material therein, an ink absorbent nib axially slidable through an opening in said material and resiliently engaged thereby and extending outwardly from the barrel, an ink reservoir at the opposite end of said barrel, an auxiliary ink charging chamber between said reservoir and iirst chamber, a valve between said chambers and spring means normalily urging it to closed position cutting off communication between the said chambers, the inner end of said nib being engaged against said vailve and adapted to move it to open position upon pressure being applied to the outer end of said nib to slide it inwardly.

5. In an ink marker, a main barrel, a Ifirst chamber at one end thereof and resilient ink absorbent material in said rst chamber, an ink absorbent nib extending outwardly from the barrel axially slidable through an opening in said material and resiliently engaged thereby, an ink reservoir at the opposite end of said barrel, an auxiliary ink charging chamber between said reservoir and first chamber, a valve means having two opposed closed positions in the first one of which it closes oi communication between the said chambers and in the other closes oi communication between said reservoir and said auxiliary chamber, and spring means for normally urging said valve means into said first closed position, the inner end of said nib being engaged against said valve and adapted to move it to said other closed position upon sucient pressure being applied to the outer end of said nib.

6. An ink marker comprising a barrel, an ink reservoir within one end thereof, one or more ink absorbent resilient packing rings mounted in the opposite end, an ink absorbent nib extending outwardly and slidable in an axial opening through said one or more rings and resiiliently engaged thereby for transfer of ink to the nib, one or more rings of ink absorbent material between the innermost packing ring and said reservoir, a valve between the innermost ring of absorbent material and said reservoir and spring means arranged to urge it to closed position, said nib being connected to open the valve against the spring pressure when pressure is applied to the outer end of the nib to slide it inwardly thereby to` admit ink to said absorbent material and in turn to conduct ink to said one or more packing rings in resilient contact with said nib.

7. An ink marker comprising a barrel, an ink reservoir Within one end thereof, an ink absorbent resilient packing ring mounted in the opposite end, an ink absorbent nib extending outwardly and slidable in an axial opening through said ring and resiliently engaged thereby for transfer of ink to the nib, a plurality of successive rings of ink absorbent material arranged between the said pack ing ring and said reservoir, a valve between the innermost ring of absorbent material and said reservoir and spring means arranged to urge it to closed position, said rings of absorbent material each having a central opening for the transfer of ink from said reservoir to said packing ring but the successive openings being of different shape to restrict free tlow of ink directly through all of the rings, said nib being connected to open the valve against the spring pressure when pressure is applied to the outer end of the nib to slide it inwardly thereby to admit ink to said absorbent material and in turn to conduct ink to said packing ring in resilient contact with said nib.

8. in an ink marker, a main barrel, a first chamber at one end thereof and resilient ink absorbent material in said first chamber, an ink absorbent nib extending outwardly from the barrel axially slidable through an opening in said material and resiliently engaged thereby, an ink reservoir at the opposite end of said barrel, an auxiliary ink charging chamber between said reservoir and first chamber having a first opening into said first chamber and a second opening into said reservoir, valve means in said auxiliary chamber and spring means normally urging it to a position closing ofi communication through said first opening between the said two chambers, the inner end of said nib having a connection to said valve and adapted to move it in an opposite direction to said spring means upon sucient pressure being applied to the outer end of said nib, and a part movable with said valve means adapted to engage in and close substantially said second opening upon inward movement of said nib.

9. In an ink marker, a main barrel, a first chamber at one end thereof and resilient ink absorbent material in said first chamber, an ink absorbent nib extending outwardly from the barrel axially slidable through an opening in said material and resiliently engaged thereby, said opening having a different cross-section from that of said nib to permit air venting, an ink reservoir at the opposite end of said barrel, an auxiliary ink charging chamber between said reservoir and rst chamber, a valve means having two opposed closed positions in the rst one of which it closes off communication between the said chambers `and in the other closes off communication between said reservoir and said auxiliary chamber, and spring means for normally urging said valve means into said first closed position, the inner end of said nib being engaged against said valve and ladapted to move it to said other closed position upon `greater than normal writing pressure being applied to the outer end of said nib.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 997,939 Wahl July 11, 1911 `1,580,070 Muller Apr. 6, 1926 3,032,802, Kusama May 8, 1962 

1. IN AN INK MARKER, A BARREL, A NIB HOLDER ATTACHED THERETO AT ONE END, AN INK ABSORBENT NIB SLIDABLE THEREIN AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AN INK RESERVOIR IN SAID BARREL AT THE END OPPOSITE SAID NIB, A CHAMBER ADJACENT SAID RESERVOIR AND INK ABSORBENT MATERIAL THEREIN, A VALVE BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER AND SAID RESERVOIR, SPRING MEANS FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING THE VALVE CLOSED, INK ABSORBENT RESILIENT PACKING BETWEEN SAID ABSORBENT MATERIAL AND SAID NIB HOLDER SAID NIB BEING SLIDABLE IN AN 